1. Chemical incompatibility reference guide v.1.0 Page 1 of 2
Chemical Incompatibility Reference Guide
This guide is a quick reference for chemicals commonly encountered in the lab. For
questions about this document, contact ehs.info@ualberta.ca.
The following list is a quick reference of incompatibilities of many chemicals commonly encounteredin the laboratory. It
is not a comprehensive list of all possible combinations and chemicals. For details on any chemical, check the MSDS, and
followthe segregationguidelinesin 5.Storage of Chemicals.
Chemical IncompatibilitiesforChemical Storage
AceticAcid
Aldehydes,bases,carbonates,chromicacid,ethyleneglycol,hydroxides,metals,oxidizers,
perchloricacid,peroxides,permanganates,phosphates,xylene
AceticAnhydride Acids,alcohols,bases,finelydividedmetals,oxidizers,reducingagents
Acetone Inorganicacids,amines,hydrogenperoxide,oxidizers,plastics
Acetylene Coppermetal,halogens,mercury,potassium, silver,oxidizers
Alkalis
Acids,carbondioxide,chlorinatedhydrocarbons,chromium, flammable liquids,mercury,
oxidizers,salt,sulphur,water
AmmoniumNitrate Acids,alkalis,chlorates,fineorganicpowders,metals,nitrates,oxidizers,sulfur
Aniline Inorganicacids,dibenzoylperoxide,hydrogenperoxide,oxidizers
Azides Acids,heavymetals,oxidizers
Bromine
Acetaldehyde,acetylene,alcohols,alkalis,amines,benzene,butadiene,butane andother
petroleumgases,ethylene,fluorine,hydrogen,ketones,finelydividedmetals, sodium
carbide,sulfur,turpentine
CalciumOxide Acids,ethanol,fluorine
Carbon(activated) Alkalis,oxidizers,calciumhypochlorite,halogens
CarbonTetrachloride Benzoyl peroxides,ethylene,fluorine,oxygen,silanes
Chlorates
Acids,ammoniumsalts,carbon,metal powders,sulfur,finelydividedcombustiblesand
organics
ChromicAcid
Aceticacid,acetone,alcohols,alkalis,ammonia,bases,camphor,flammable liquids,
glycerine,turpentine
Chlorine
Acetylene,ammonia,benzene,butadiene,ethylene andotherpetroleumgases,hydrazine,
hydrogen,hydrogenperoxide,iodine,sodiumhydroxide,turpentine,otherpetroleum
components,finelydividedmetals
Chlorine Dioxide
Ammonia,hydrogen,hydrogensulfide,mercury,methane,phosphine,phosphorous,
potassiumhydroxide
Copper Acetylene,calcium, hydrogenperoxide,oxidizers
Cyanides Acids,alkalis,strongbases
Flammable Liquids
Ammoniumnitrate,chromicacid,hydrogenperoxide,nitricacid,sodiumperoxide,
halogens
Fluorine
Ammonia,halocarbons,halogens,ketones,metals,organicacids,hydrocarbons,other
combustible material
Hydrazine Inorganicacids,hydrogenperoxides,oxidizers
Hydrocarbons Acids,bases,oxidizers
HydrochloricAcid Alkali metals,amines,bases,copper,copperalloys, aluminium,moisture
HydrofluoricAcid Ammonia,glass,organics,sodium
HydrogenPeroxide
Acetylaldehyde,aceticacid,acetone,alcohols,aniline,carboxylicacids,flammableliquids
and combustible material,metalsandtheirsalts,nitricacid,nitromethane,organics,
phosphorous,sodium,sulfuricacid
HydrogenSulfide Acetylaldehyde,oxidizers,sodium